Loaded gun found in Chattanooga air passenger's bag

A loaded Glock 27 was found by the TSA in the carry-on luggage of a passenger flying out of Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport.

Photo by
WRCB-TV Channel 3 /Times Free Press.

A passenger tried to fly out of the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport with a loaded handgun in his carry-on bag, according to a news release from the Transportation Security Agency.

The unidentified passenger was carrying a Glock 27 with a 10-round clip and one in the chamber, the release from TSA press secretary Ross Feinstein stated.

This was the fifth weapon to be found in carry-on luggage at the Chattanooga airport so far this year, Feinstein said. Nationwide, TSA agents had found 1,343 firearms at checkpoints through September. Federal law prohibits firearms in carry-on bags but allows unloaded weapons in checked bags if they are declared to the airline.

Feinstein said people who are caught with firearms at security checkpoints may be charged criminally and fined up to $11,000 by TSA.